Artificial tooth



(No Model.)

J. W. MOFFITT.

' ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

No. 482,377. Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WV. MOFFITT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PETER MOGILL, OF LAMBERTVILLE, NEIV JERSEY.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,377, dated September 13, 1892. Application filed November 18 1891- Sarial No. 412,261. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. Monnrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and countyof Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Teeth, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my mproved tooth preparatory to the application of the wire thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the tooth with the wire applied. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 00 cc of Fig. 2.

This invention relates to those artificial teeth which are provided with rearwardly projecting pins for their attachment to the usual base-plates. Ordinarily the pins of artificial teeth are of platinum, the same being inserted in the teeth previous to the baking or firing of the latter. \Vhile platinum is em ployed in preference to the baser metals, because of its much higher point of fusibility, yet there is one objection to its usenamely, its great expense. On this account there have been many attempts, more or less successful, to obviate the use of platinum, several of such attempts having formed the subjects of Letters Patent.

To the same end the present invention is directed; and with this view it consists in certain novel features of construction, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring now to the drawings, A represents a tooth, in the body of which is a hole or perforation a, that extends from side to side of the tooth. Extending rearwardly from the ends of this hole or perforation and continuing, preferably, around the back of the tooth is a groove or recess a. Although I usually form said perforation and groove in the tooth during its molding, yet either or both of the same may be subsequently made in the tooth, if desired.

13 represents a piece of wire-for instance, German silver-which is applied to the tooth as a substitute for the platinum pins heretofore used. This wire is run through the perforation a, and the ends of the former are then bent rearwardly in a manner to enter the lateral portions of the groove a.

These ends are then each given an inset b at the rear of the tooth, so as to interlock the wire with the rearward portion of the groove, and thereby effectually secure the wire to the tooth. This done the ends are extended rearwardly to serve as projecting pins, by means of which the tooth may be attached to the usual base-plate. These pins are preferably diverged from their inset portions, as seen, so that they shall become effectually interlocked with the material comprising the base-plate. \Vhile the groove a affords a very simple and efficient means whereby the wire is maintained rigidly in place, still it performs another very important functionthat is to say, it confines the lateral portions of the wire and prevents their projection beyond the sides of the tooth. Thus in my construction the adjacent teeth in a full denture may be brought in as close contact as in the previous construction above referred to.

My improvement may be used in connection with block or sectional teeth just as readily and efficiently as in .single teeth. This application is so obvious that I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate or describe the same herein.

I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with an artificial tooth provided with a transverse perforation and with a lateral groove or grooves extending rearwardly therefrom, of a wire extending through said perforation and projecting rearward of the tooth, the sides of the wire being engaged with said groove or grooves, substantially as described.

2. The described artificial tooth provided with the transverse perforation and with the groove extending rearwardly from the ends of said perforation, the latter and the groove being adapted to receive a wire, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 11th day of November, A. D. 1891.

JOHN WV. HOFFITT.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. NOLAN, Gnonen W. MARTER. 

